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The Siege (Stargate Atlantis)
Encyclopedia
"The Siege" is the season finale
for season one
and season premiere
for season two
of the military science fiction
television series Stargate Atlantis
, and the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first episode of the series overall. The episodes was written by executive producers Joseph Mallozzi
and Paul Mullie
(part two) and Martin Gero
(part one and three), the episodes were directed by Martin Wood
. The episodes were one of the series strongest in season 1 on Nielsen ratings
and part three gathered the strongest rating with "Instinct" in season 2. The episode got strong reviews from major media publishers worldwide.
Part three introduced several cast changes for the season, including the departure of Aiden Ford
(Rainbow Sun Francks
) and the inclusion of Dr. Carson Beckett
(Paul McGillion
) and Steven Caldwell (Mitch Pileggi
) to the main and recurring cast. "The Siege" is about the Wraith
laying a siege
on Atlantis
and the Atlantis expedition's re-contact with Earth
.
come closer to Atlantis
, the leading group of the expedition is informed by Rodney McKay
and Radek Zelenka
that the Wraith will pass the last Lantean defence satellite; they are very confident they can bring it back online and obliterate all three Hive Ships before they even reach Atlantis. McKay volunteers for the mission to power it up, entering the airless, weightless environment with a Naqahdah generator tethered to him, with it bobbing about like a helium balloon on the end of a string in an atmosphere within a gravity well
. Meanwhile Elizabeth Weir
, John Sheppard
, his team, and Bates search for a new Alpha site. Weir is informed by Zelenka that the self-destruct of the city wouldn't destroy enough of the city that the Wraith couldn't trace them back to Earth. He shows Weir a simulation which predicts that the Wraith will be able to recover some of the City's technology, and some of the database. After an attack by darts on Atlantis and subsequent unexplained faults, it is suspected that Wraith may have infiltrated outlying parts. With a biometric sensor they are able to find out where the Wraith is and they try to capture him. However, the Wraith is able to take out Sheppard's team until he is stunned by Aiden Ford
. The Wraith is imprisoned and Sheppard starts to interrogate him after he named him Bob, but he keeps silent.
Meanwhile the Wraith Hive-Ships drop out of hyperspace as predicted, and Grodin powers up the satellite. McKay watches from the cloaked Puddle Jumper as the energy beam from the weapon successfully slices through and destroys one Hive-ship. Amid the celebration, Grodin radios that he is having trouble - McKay's rerouting has overloaded and the weapon can't be fired again. Grodin cannot bring it back online, and as McKay orders the pilot to rescue him, the remaining Hive Ships destroy the satellite, killing Grodin. McKay can't do anything, thus he informs Weir and is ordered to return to Atlantis. Weir informs the base about what has happened and afterwards starts the self-destruct countdown. Having heard the evacuation order, Bob tells them no matter where they go, no matter where they hide, the Wraith will find them, as well as Earth.
returned to Atlantis
, where Elizabeth Weir
orders the self-destruct activation. As they attempt to dial the Alpha site, the gate is suddenly activated; a wormhole was established from Earth
. Much to everyone's amazement, a company of marines come through and Weir and the others are greeted by Colonel
Dillion Everett who instantly takes over command. Everett informs him that the Daedalus
will arrive in four days with a Zero Point Module (ZPM).
In the conference room Everett informs the others about their plan, but Weir is only allowed to join after Sheppard insists. Later Everett meets with Sheppard in the holographic archive and Sheppard grimly plays the history of the Pegasus Galaxy. Contemplating strategies, Sheppard suggests that they remotely control the Puddle Jumpers using the Chair and fly them, cloaked, into the hive ships armed with an explosive; he believes they should ask the Genii
to use their nuclear weapons. At Atlantis the test-run of Sheppard's plan is a success, McKay and Zelenka starts to install the completed weapons into the Puddle Jumpers. Meanwhile several men are taken out by the Wraith and the wounded are taken to the Alpha site.
As Weir cannot stop him, Sheppard rushes to the Puddle Jumper bay and takes it up. Outside, as Aiden Ford
's team attempt to repel the Darts, a group of Wraith materialises in front of them. Someone lets off a grenade, and Ford and a Wraith are catapulted into the ocean. Inside, Everett's team is overrun and he is cornered by a Wraith. Out of ammo, the alien begins to feed off him.
from the remaining two Wraith hive ships. John Sheppard
does not die, and is instead rescued by Asgard teleportation via the Daedalus; First Lieutenant
Aiden Ford
becomes paranoid after realizing the Atlantis team is afraid of him because he has been injected with the Wraith enzyme and escapes through the Stargate
in one of the Puddle Jumpers. Also the Wraith give up on trying to capture Atlantis after the team fool them into thinking they destroyed the city with one of the Daedaluss nuclear weapon
s.
The first plot information about "The Siege, Part 2" was released in November, 2004. In the original script
, Colonel Dillion Everett was supposed to be a recurring character
in the series future along with his two United States Marine Corps
officers Major Ferrell and Captain Radner, the announcement also suggested the involvement of Dr. Radek Zelenka
. All of the characters, with the exception of Zelenka were killed off in "The Siege, Part 2". Another announcement later on in January, 2005 did not include any references to Dillion and his two marines.
A deleted scene
from part two showed Sora being returned to the Genii as part of their deal for the nuclear weapons, but this was cut due to time constraints. Being cut, it is unclear if the event occurred or if Sora may still be being held. This is the first appearance of the Daedalus class battlecruiser
, specifically the first ship of the class, the Daedalus itself . It was first mentioned in the Stargate SG-1
episode "Moebius
", which also included a brief image of its schematics. This is also the first episode in which the full given name for Radek Zelenka
is revealed. The producers chose "Radek", a fairly common Czech given name, without input from portraying actor David Nykl
. At the end of season 1
, Rainbow Sun Francks
(portrayed Aiden Ford
) was disappointed about the evolution of his character, he then asked the producer if they could expand him somehow. The producers agreed and reduced Ford's status to a recurring role
so that his story arc would be more important to the "whole" story arc of season 2
.
When talking about part 3, Martin Gero
called it the "biggest episode" they had done. When developing part three of "The Siege", Brad Wright
and Gero handed over a copy of the script to director Martin Wood
. As Wood has commented, his job was to make it "come to life in a way" that was more "exciting" than previous part. He called the episodes, a "Roller-coaster ride" because of the "Loops" and "Twists". In the last scene, where John Sheppard
is stalking Aiden Ford
, the portraying actors Joe Flanigan
and Francks complained about their characters getting "Off a little easy." They eventually came to a compromise with the producers, since the last scene was "Really" important to the story arc of "Runner".
According to writer-producer Gero, Carson Beckett
was set to appear in only a handful of episodes after the Stargate Atlantis pilot episode, "Rising
", but the character had such a big connection to the fans that Gero labeled McGillion the "breakout star" in Stargate Atlantis. The producers decided to give Beckett a larger role and made him a recurring character with a total of fifteen episode appearances in the first season, followed by a regular in season two.
"The Siege, Part 1" earned a household rating of 2.5, both "The Siege, Part 2" and "The Siege, Part 3" earned a household rating of 2.2. Part one and three got a GateWorld
rating of three out of four, part two got three and half out of four. "The Siege, Part 3" topped the household rating scale in the summer of 2005. "The Siege, Part 3" was also given a syndication rating of 1.1. "The Siege, Part 1" and "Part 2" debuted on the Canadian
broadcasting agency, The Movie Network
on January 24 and January 31, 2005. "Part 1" debuted on March 18, 2005 on the Sci Fi Channel
in the United States
. Part 3 of "The Siege" premiered on British channel Sky1 on October 19 at 8 p.m. The third part was viewed by 680,000 in the United Kingdom.
Along with the season premiere of sister show
Stargate SG-1
's episode "Avalon
", Stargate Atlantis
s premiere episode of season two, "The Siege, Part 3", failed to attract many viewers, holding the average viewership rating it held in the previous season of Stargate Atlantis. While the show was not a success, together with Battlestar Galactica
and Stargate SG-1, it made the Sci Fi Channel the top rated cable network
in the United States for the 18–49 and 25–54 demographics. Stargate Atlantis had a higher household rating than Stargate SG-1, but a lower one than Battlestar Galactica.
Season finale
A season finale is the final episode of a season of a television program...
for season one
Stargate Atlantis (season 1)
The first season of the television series Stargate Atlantis commenced airing on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States on July 16, 2004, concluded on The Movie Network in Canada on January 31, 2005, and contained 20 episodes. The show was a spin off of sister show, Stargate SG-1...
and season premiere
Season premiere
In North America, a season premiere is the first episode of a new season of a given television show. It often airs in September or October, after several months of reruns.-Evaluating the changes:...
for season two
Stargate Atlantis (season 2)
The second season of the television series Stargate Atlantis commenced airing on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States on July 15, 2005, concluded on The Movie Network in Canada on January 30, 2006, and contained 20 episodes. The show itself is a spin off of its sister show, Stargate SG-1. The...
of the military science fiction
Military science fiction
Military science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction in which the principal characters are members of a military service and an armed conflict is taking place, normally in space, or on a planet other than Earth...
television series Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
, and the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first episode of the series overall. The episodes was written by executive producers Joseph Mallozzi
Joseph Mallozzi
Joseph Mallozzi is a Canadian writer and producer.He is most noted for his contributions to the Stargate SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis, and Stargate Universe television series. He joined the Stargate production team at the start of Stargate SG-1s fourth season in 2000...
and Paul Mullie
Paul Mullie
Paul Mullie is a screenwriter and producer. He is credited for writing episodes of Stargate Atlantis, Largo Winch, and Stargate SG-1...
(part two) and Martin Gero
Martin Gero
Martin Gero is a Canadian screenwriter and co-executive producer for Stargate Atlantis.Born in Switzerland, Gero spent much of his childhood in Ottawa, Ontario. He attended Canterbury High School for the Arts and Ryerson University in Toronto...
(part one and three), the episodes were directed by Martin Wood
Martin Wood
Martin Wood is a Canadian television director who has been directing since the mid 1990s. Specializing in science fiction, where he is best known for his work as a director and producer on Stargate SG-1 , as well as its spin-off series Stargate Atlantis .-Career:Martin Wood began his television...
. The episodes were one of the series strongest in season 1 on Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
and part three gathered the strongest rating with "Instinct" in season 2. The episode got strong reviews from major media publishers worldwide.
Part three introduced several cast changes for the season, including the departure of Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate Atlantis, a military science fiction show about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices...
(Rainbow Sun Francks
Rainbow Sun Francks
Rainbow Sun Francks is an actor and songwriter. He is the son of actor/musician Don Francks and dancer Lili Francks, a member of the Plains Cree First Nation. He is also the brother of Cree Summer. For a brief time, he was an on-air personality at MuchMusic, a Canadian music video and variety...
) and the inclusion of Dr. Carson Beckett
Carson Beckett
Dr. Carson Beckett is a fictional Scottish character in the Canadian-American science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1. He is portrayed by Scottish-born Canadian actor Paul McGillion, who previously played Dr. Ernest Littlefield in the first season of...
(Paul McGillion
Paul McGillion
Paul McGillion is a Vancouver-based actor who has worked in television, film and theatre since 1990. He is best known for his role on the television series Stargate Atlantis as Dr. Carson Beckett.-Early life:...
) and Steven Caldwell (Mitch Pileggi
Mitch Pileggi
Mitchell Craig "Mitch" Pileggi is an American actor. Pileggi is known for playing FBI assistant director Walter Skinner on the long-running popular series The X-Files. He also had a recurring role on Stargate Atlantis as Col. Steven Caldwell...
) to the main and recurring cast. "The Siege" is about the Wraith
Wraith (Stargate)
In the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, the Wraith are the original enemy alien species, first introduced in the pilot episode . In the series, they are a vampire-like telepathic race who feed on the "life-force" of humans, and are the dominant power in the Pegasus galaxy...
laying a siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
on Atlantis
Atlantis (Stargate)
In the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, the spin-off of Stargate SG-1, Atlantis is a city-sized starship originally located in the Pegasus galaxy. Atlantis serves as the base of operations for the main characters, from which they explore other planets through the Stargate...
and the Atlantis expedition's re-contact with Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
.
Part 1
While the WraithWraith (Stargate)
In the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, the Wraith are the original enemy alien species, first introduced in the pilot episode . In the series, they are a vampire-like telepathic race who feed on the "life-force" of humans, and are the dominant power in the Pegasus galaxy...
come closer to Atlantis
Atlantis (Stargate)
In the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, the spin-off of Stargate SG-1, Atlantis is a city-sized starship originally located in the Pegasus galaxy. Atlantis serves as the base of operations for the main characters, from which they explore other planets through the Stargate...
, the leading group of the expedition is informed by Rodney McKay
Rodney McKay
Doctor Meredith Rodney McKay, Ph.D, is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, two military science fiction television shows about a military team exploring two galaxies via a network of alien transportation devices...
and Radek Zelenka
Radek Zelenka
Dr. Radek Zelenka is a fictional character in the television series Stargate Atlantis, portrayed by David Nykl. He is a scientist from the Czech Republic and a member of the original expedition from Earth to the Ancient city of Atlantis in the Pegasus galaxy. His expertise on Ancient technology is...
that the Wraith will pass the last Lantean defence satellite; they are very confident they can bring it back online and obliterate all three Hive Ships before they even reach Atlantis. McKay volunteers for the mission to power it up, entering the airless, weightless environment with a Naqahdah generator tethered to him, with it bobbing about like a helium balloon on the end of a string in an atmosphere within a gravity well
Gravity well
A gravity well or gravitational well is a conceptual model of the gravitational field surrounding a body in space. The more massive the body the deeper and more extensive the gravity well associated with it. The Sun has a far-reaching and deep gravity well. Asteroids and small moons have much...
. Meanwhile Elizabeth Weir
Elizabeth Weir (Stargate)
Dr. Elizabeth Weir is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate Atlantis, a military science fiction show about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices. Elizabeth Weir is introduced as a recurring character in...
, John Sheppard
John Sheppard (Stargate)
John Sheppard is a fictional character in the Canadian-American military science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, a science fiction show about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices...
, his team, and Bates search for a new Alpha site. Weir is informed by Zelenka that the self-destruct of the city wouldn't destroy enough of the city that the Wraith couldn't trace them back to Earth. He shows Weir a simulation which predicts that the Wraith will be able to recover some of the City's technology, and some of the database. After an attack by darts on Atlantis and subsequent unexplained faults, it is suspected that Wraith may have infiltrated outlying parts. With a biometric sensor they are able to find out where the Wraith is and they try to capture him. However, the Wraith is able to take out Sheppard's team until he is stunned by Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate Atlantis, a military science fiction show about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices...
. The Wraith is imprisoned and Sheppard starts to interrogate him after he named him Bob, but he keeps silent.
Meanwhile the Wraith Hive-Ships drop out of hyperspace as predicted, and Grodin powers up the satellite. McKay watches from the cloaked Puddle Jumper as the energy beam from the weapon successfully slices through and destroys one Hive-ship. Amid the celebration, Grodin radios that he is having trouble - McKay's rerouting has overloaded and the weapon can't be fired again. Grodin cannot bring it back online, and as McKay orders the pilot to rescue him, the remaining Hive Ships destroy the satellite, killing Grodin. McKay can't do anything, thus he informs Weir and is ordered to return to Atlantis. Weir informs the base about what has happened and afterwards starts the self-destruct countdown. Having heard the evacuation order, Bob tells them no matter where they go, no matter where they hide, the Wraith will find them, as well as Earth.
Part 2
Rodney McKayRodney McKay
Doctor Meredith Rodney McKay, Ph.D, is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, two military science fiction television shows about a military team exploring two galaxies via a network of alien transportation devices...
returned to Atlantis
Atlantis (Stargate)
In the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, the spin-off of Stargate SG-1, Atlantis is a city-sized starship originally located in the Pegasus galaxy. Atlantis serves as the base of operations for the main characters, from which they explore other planets through the Stargate...
, where Elizabeth Weir
Elizabeth Weir (Stargate)
Dr. Elizabeth Weir is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate Atlantis, a military science fiction show about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices. Elizabeth Weir is introduced as a recurring character in...
orders the self-destruct activation. As they attempt to dial the Alpha site, the gate is suddenly activated; a wormhole was established from Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. Much to everyone's amazement, a company of marines come through and Weir and the others are greeted by Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Dillion Everett who instantly takes over command. Everett informs him that the Daedalus
Daedalus class battlecruiser
In the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 and its sequels, several types of starships are introduced in the later seasons. In the series, they are the product of several years' worth of research into alien technologies discovered on off-world missions to other planets visited via the...
will arrive in four days with a Zero Point Module (ZPM).
In the conference room Everett informs the others about their plan, but Weir is only allowed to join after Sheppard insists. Later Everett meets with Sheppard in the holographic archive and Sheppard grimly plays the history of the Pegasus Galaxy. Contemplating strategies, Sheppard suggests that they remotely control the Puddle Jumpers using the Chair and fly them, cloaked, into the hive ships armed with an explosive; he believes they should ask the Genii
Genii (Stargate)
In the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, the Genii are a human culture living in the Pegasus galaxy . Although they appear to be simple Amish-like farmers, the Genii are an advanced, militaristic society...
to use their nuclear weapons. At Atlantis the test-run of Sheppard's plan is a success, McKay and Zelenka starts to install the completed weapons into the Puddle Jumpers. Meanwhile several men are taken out by the Wraith and the wounded are taken to the Alpha site.
As Weir cannot stop him, Sheppard rushes to the Puddle Jumper bay and takes it up. Outside, as Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate Atlantis, a military science fiction show about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices...
's team attempt to repel the Darts, a group of Wraith materialises in front of them. Someone lets off a grenade, and Ford and a Wraith are catapulted into the ocean. Inside, Everett's team is overrun and he is cornered by a Wraith. Out of ammo, the alien begins to feed off him.
Part 3
The Daedalus arrives and saves AtlantisAtlantis (Stargate)
In the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, the spin-off of Stargate SG-1, Atlantis is a city-sized starship originally located in the Pegasus galaxy. Atlantis serves as the base of operations for the main characters, from which they explore other planets through the Stargate...
from the remaining two Wraith hive ships. John Sheppard
John Sheppard (Stargate)
John Sheppard is a fictional character in the Canadian-American military science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, a science fiction show about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices...
does not die, and is instead rescued by Asgard teleportation via the Daedalus; First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate Atlantis, a military science fiction show about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices...
becomes paranoid after realizing the Atlantis team is afraid of him because he has been injected with the Wraith enzyme and escapes through the Stargate
Stargate (device)
A Stargate is a portal device within the Stargate fictional universe that allows practical, rapid travel between two distant locations. The devices first appear in the 1994 Roland Emmerich film Stargate, and thereafter in the television series Stargate SG-1 and its spin-offs...
in one of the Puddle Jumpers. Also the Wraith give up on trying to capture Atlantis after the team fool them into thinking they destroyed the city with one of the Daedaluss nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
s.
Production
Teleplay
A teleplay is a television play, a comedy or drama written or adapted for television. The term surfaced during the 1950s with wide usage to distinguish a television plays from stage plays for the theater and screenplays written for films...
, Colonel Dillion Everett was supposed to be a recurring character
Recurring character
A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a prime time TV series, who appears from time to time during the series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in an episode, sometimes being the main focus...
in the series future along with his two United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
officers Major Ferrell and Captain Radner, the announcement also suggested the involvement of Dr. Radek Zelenka
Radek Zelenka
Dr. Radek Zelenka is a fictional character in the television series Stargate Atlantis, portrayed by David Nykl. He is a scientist from the Czech Republic and a member of the original expedition from Earth to the Ancient city of Atlantis in the Pegasus galaxy. His expertise on Ancient technology is...
. All of the characters, with the exception of Zelenka were killed off in "The Siege, Part 2". Another announcement later on in January, 2005 did not include any references to Dillion and his two marines.
A deleted scene
Deleted scene
In Entertainment, especially the film and television industry, Deleted scenes are parts of a film removed or censored from or replaced by another scene in the final "cut", or version, of a film...
from part two showed Sora being returned to the Genii as part of their deal for the nuclear weapons, but this was cut due to time constraints. Being cut, it is unclear if the event occurred or if Sora may still be being held. This is the first appearance of the Daedalus class battlecruiser
Daedalus class battlecruiser
In the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 and its sequels, several types of starships are introduced in the later seasons. In the series, they are the product of several years' worth of research into alien technologies discovered on off-world missions to other planets visited via the...
, specifically the first ship of the class, the Daedalus itself . It was first mentioned in the Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
episode "Moebius
Moebius (Stargate SG-1)
"Moebius" is the season finale for season eight of the Canadian-American military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1. The episodes were written by Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie, Executive producers Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, the episodes were directed by Peter DeLuise...
", which also included a brief image of its schematics. This is also the first episode in which the full given name for Radek Zelenka
Radek Zelenka
Dr. Radek Zelenka is a fictional character in the television series Stargate Atlantis, portrayed by David Nykl. He is a scientist from the Czech Republic and a member of the original expedition from Earth to the Ancient city of Atlantis in the Pegasus galaxy. His expertise on Ancient technology is...
is revealed. The producers chose "Radek", a fairly common Czech given name, without input from portraying actor David Nykl
David Nykl
David Nykl is a Czech Canadian actor of film, television, commercials and theater.After the Soviet invasion in 1968, he and his family left then-Communist Czechoslovakia for Canada...
. At the end of season 1
Stargate Atlantis (season 1)
The first season of the television series Stargate Atlantis commenced airing on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States on July 16, 2004, concluded on The Movie Network in Canada on January 31, 2005, and contained 20 episodes. The show was a spin off of sister show, Stargate SG-1...
, Rainbow Sun Francks
Rainbow Sun Francks
Rainbow Sun Francks is an actor and songwriter. He is the son of actor/musician Don Francks and dancer Lili Francks, a member of the Plains Cree First Nation. He is also the brother of Cree Summer. For a brief time, he was an on-air personality at MuchMusic, a Canadian music video and variety...
(portrayed Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate Atlantis, a military science fiction show about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices...
) was disappointed about the evolution of his character, he then asked the producer if they could expand him somehow. The producers agreed and reduced Ford's status to a recurring role
Recurring character
A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a prime time TV series, who appears from time to time during the series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in an episode, sometimes being the main focus...
so that his story arc would be more important to the "whole" story arc of season 2
Stargate Atlantis (season 2)
The second season of the television series Stargate Atlantis commenced airing on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States on July 15, 2005, concluded on The Movie Network in Canada on January 30, 2006, and contained 20 episodes. The show itself is a spin off of its sister show, Stargate SG-1. The...
.
When talking about part 3, Martin Gero
Martin Gero
Martin Gero is a Canadian screenwriter and co-executive producer for Stargate Atlantis.Born in Switzerland, Gero spent much of his childhood in Ottawa, Ontario. He attended Canterbury High School for the Arts and Ryerson University in Toronto...
called it the "biggest episode" they had done. When developing part three of "The Siege", Brad Wright
Brad Wright
Brad Wright is a Canadian television producer, screenwriter and actor. He is best known as the creator or co-creator of the television series Stargate SG-1 , Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe...
and Gero handed over a copy of the script to director Martin Wood
Martin Wood
Martin Wood is a Canadian television director who has been directing since the mid 1990s. Specializing in science fiction, where he is best known for his work as a director and producer on Stargate SG-1 , as well as its spin-off series Stargate Atlantis .-Career:Martin Wood began his television...
. As Wood has commented, his job was to make it "come to life in a way" that was more "exciting" than previous part. He called the episodes, a "Roller-coaster ride" because of the "Loops" and "Twists". In the last scene, where John Sheppard
John Sheppard (Stargate)
John Sheppard is a fictional character in the Canadian-American military science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, a science fiction show about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices...
is stalking Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford
Aiden Ford is a fictional character in the Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate Atlantis, a military science fiction show about a military team exploring the galaxy via a network of alien transportation devices...
, the portraying actors Joe Flanigan
Joe Flanigan
Joe Flanigan is an American television actor best known for his portrayal of the character Major/Lt. Colonel John Sheppard in Stargate Atlantis.-Early life:Flanigan was born Joseph Dunnigan III in Los Angeles, California...
and Francks complained about their characters getting "Off a little easy." They eventually came to a compromise with the producers, since the last scene was "Really" important to the story arc of "Runner".
According to writer-producer Gero, Carson Beckett
Carson Beckett
Dr. Carson Beckett is a fictional Scottish character in the Canadian-American science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1. He is portrayed by Scottish-born Canadian actor Paul McGillion, who previously played Dr. Ernest Littlefield in the first season of...
was set to appear in only a handful of episodes after the Stargate Atlantis pilot episode, "Rising
Rising (Stargate Atlantis)
"Rising" is the pilot episode for season one of the military science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, a Canadian-American spin off series of Stargate SG-1. The episodes were written by executive producers Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, the episodes were directed by Martin Wood...
", but the character had such a big connection to the fans that Gero labeled McGillion the "breakout star" in Stargate Atlantis. The producers decided to give Beckett a larger role and made him a recurring character with a total of fifteen episode appearances in the first season, followed by a regular in season two.
Reception
GateWorld
Stargate fandom is a community of people actively interested in the military science fiction film Stargate and the television shows Stargate SG-1 , Stargate Infinity , Stargate Atlantis , Stargate Universe and their spin offs...
rating of three out of four, part two got three and half out of four. "The Siege, Part 3" topped the household rating scale in the summer of 2005. "The Siege, Part 3" was also given a syndication rating of 1.1. "The Siege, Part 1" and "Part 2" debuted on the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
broadcasting agency, The Movie Network
The Movie Network
The Movie Network is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service, owned by Astral Media. The service is licensed to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories...
on January 24 and January 31, 2005. "Part 1" debuted on March 18, 2005 on the Sci Fi Channel
Sci Fi Channel (United States)
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Part 3 of "The Siege" premiered on British channel Sky1 on October 19 at 8 p.m. The third part was viewed by 680,000 in the United Kingdom.
Along with the season premiere of sister show
Sister show
Sister shows are two or more television shows which exist in the same fictional universe and which may have crossovers. They differ to a degree from spin-offs in that shows may air simultaneously, rather than being derived from, and replacing, another. The popularity of most shows is limited to a...
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
's episode "Avalon
Avalon (Stargate SG-1)
"Avalon" are the Season 9 premiere episodes of the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1.They marked the beginning of a "new" Stargate SG-1 that continued after the total closure and possible ending of the previous season. Despite seeing the departure of Richard Dean Anderson's Jack...
", Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis
Stargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
s premiere episode of season two, "The Siege, Part 3", failed to attract many viewers, holding the average viewership rating it held in the previous season of Stargate Atlantis. While the show was not a success, together with Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The franchise began with the Battlestar Galactica TV series in 1978, and was followed by a brief sequel TV series in 1980, a line of book adaptations, original novels, comic books, a board game, and video games...
and Stargate SG-1, it made the Sci Fi Channel the top rated cable network
Cable network
A cable channel is a television channel available via cable television. Such channels are usually also available via satellite television, including direct broadcast satellite providers such as DirecTV, Dish Network and BSkyB...
in the United States for the 18–49 and 25–54 demographics. Stargate Atlantis had a higher household rating than Stargate SG-1, but a lower one than Battlestar Galactica.
External links
- The Siege Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 at mgm.com
- The Siege on scifi.comSci Fi Channel (United States)Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...